Seat belt reminder indicating switch



March 14, 1967 F. SKRBINA 3,309,597

SEAT BELT REMINDER INDICATING SWITCH Original Filed Dec. 26, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet l III ATTO/P/VAYS March 14, 1967 F. SKRBINA SEAT BELTREMINDER INDICATING SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 26. 963

INVENTOR.

United States Patent Orifice 2 Claims. (Ci. 34938li) This application isa division of United States patent application S.N. 333,556, filed Dec.26, 1963.

This invention relates to a combination switch and warning lamp assemblyand in particular to a combination switch and warning lamp assemblysuitable for use in a seat belt reminder system.

The motoring public has become increasingly aware of the value ofproviding safety seat belts for use in auto motive vehicles, and anincreasing number of vehicle buyers have incorporated seat belts intheir vehicles. It is obvious that such people wish to fasten their seatbelts each time they enter the vehicle, but in the absence of somedevice to remind them, they often neglect to do so and the seat beltsremain unused during long periods of time.

The invention relates to a combination warning lamp and switch assemblythat includes a push button switch. it comprises a portion of thewarning lamp housing and lens system. In this system the lens is mountedfor limited movement within its housing, and is spring loaded into itsnormal position. When the lens is moved a short distance by a vehicleoccupant, is closes a set of contacts and this action brings about thedeenergization of the warning lamp as stated. Preferably this lens has arectangular configuration and includes the words Fasten Seat Beltsinscribed on it so that when the warning lamp is energized the wordsFasten Seat Belts will become readily visible to the vehicle occupants.It is preferred to use a leaf spring to spring load the lens and thisleaf spring has a reflective surface that serves as a reflector for thewarning lamp.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel and uniqueswitching means in a seat belt reminder system in an automotive vehiclefor reminding vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts, which iseffective and uses a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combinationwarning lamp and switch arrangement in an automotive vehicle in whichactuation of the switch deenergizes the warning lamp.

Further objects and attendant advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent as the specification is considered in connectionwith the attached drawings in which:

FlGURE 1 is a perspective view of an automotive vehicle driver and hissurrounding environment showing the location of the reminder device inan automotive vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of the seat belt remindersystem of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the seat belt warning lamp and switcharrangement shown mounted in a vehicle console;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal view of the warning lamp and switcharrangement taken along the line 44 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the warning lamp and switchingarrangement shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 with the surrounding bezel of theswitch removed;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG- URE 4, and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, taken along theline 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views thereof, there is shown inFEGURE l a vehicle seat in that is esigned to position the driver of thevehicle properly before the vehicle control system. As shown, a seatbelt 11 is adapted to be positioned about the driver of the vehicle andto hold him in a restrained position should the vehicle be involved inany type of an accident. As is usual in automotive seat belts, the seatbelt 11 comprises a first section 12 and a second section 13 that aredesigned to be fastened together by a seat belt buckle 14. It can bereadily appreciated that the vehicle may contain other seat belts thatare adaped to be positioned about the other vehicle occupants orpassengers. It often occurs that the vehicle driver or other occupantwill forget to fasten his seat belt when he enters the vehicle. Thepresent invention is designed to remind the vehicle driver, or otheroccupant, to fasten his seat belt and this reminder is given when theignition switch of the vehicle is closed or turned to the on position.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is shown a schematic electrical diagramof the present invention in which a source of electrical energy in theform of a vehicle storage battery 15 has one terminal 17 connected toground through a lead 13. The other terminal 26 of the vehicle storagebattery is connected to a movable arm 21 of ignition switch 22 through alead 23. As is usual in automotive vehicles, the ignition switch 22 hasan on teriinal connected to the ignition system 25 or" the vehiclethrough a lead as. The ignition system 25 also is connected to groundthrough a lead 2'7.

The accessory terminal 31 of the ignition switch will be energized anytime the ignition switch 22 is closed or turned to the on position. Thiscan be accomplished, for example, by a conductive blade 32 that will beplaced in contact with both the on terminal 2 5 and the accessoryterminal 31 any time that the switch is turned to the on position. Theaccessory terminal 31 is connected to a junction 34 by means of a lead35 and the junction 34 is connected to a warning device, preferably inthe form of a lamp 36, by means of a lead 37. The other terminal of thewarning device of lamp 36 is connected to ground through lead 38, a setof normally closed contacts 39 of relay 41, and leads 42 and 43. Therelay 31, in addition to having the normally closed set of contacts 44and a relay winding 45. One end of the relay winding 45 is connected tothe junction 34 through a lead 46 while the other end is connected to ajunction 47 through a lead 48. The junction 47 is connected to thenormally open set of contacts 44 and the normally open set of contacts44 is connected to ground through lead 51 and the lead 43. The junction47 is also adapted to be connected to ground through a push buttonswitch 52 that connects the relay winding 45 to ground through the lead43, junction 47, and leads 54 and 55.

In operation, it can readily be appreciated that the warning device orlamp 343 is energized when the ignition switch 22 is moved to the onposition. At this time a series circuit is completed from the battery 16through the movable arm 21 and conductive blade 32 of ignition switch22, accessory terminal 31, the warning lamp or device 36 and thenormally closed set of contacts 39 of the relay 41. As a result, thewarning lamp 36 will be energized each time the ignition switch 22 ismoved to the on position.

In order to tie-energize the warning lamp 36 the push button switch 52must be actuated. Actuation of the push button switch 52 energizes relaywinding 45 from the terminal 31 of the ignition switch 22 (assuming theignition switch to be in the on position), through the lead 35 and lead46, since the junction 47 is grounded through lead 54, push buttonswitch 52 and lead 55. This action opens the normally closed set ofcontacts 39 of the relay 41, and closes the normally open set ofcontacts 44. As a result the warning lamp or device 36, is de-energizedand the junction 47 is grounded through lead 51, contacts 44, leads 5iand 43. The relay winding will remain energized, therefore, when thepush button switch 52 is opened and will remain so energized until theignition switch 22 is returned to the off position at which time theaccessory terminal 31 is de-energized. Returning the ignition switch 22to the off position will close the normally closed set of contacts 39,open the normally open set of contacts 44 and reset the reminder systemin position so that the warning device or lamp 36 will be re-energizedwhen the ignition switch 22 is again closed.

Warning lamp or device 36 and the push button switch 52 are combinedinto a combination warning lamp and switch assembly 61 that ispositioned adjacent the vehicle driver or other vehicle occupant, forexample, on a sheet metal console 62 so that it is readily accessible tothe driver or other vehicle occupant when the driver or other vehicleoccupant has his seat belt fastened. Referring to FIGURE 4, thiscombination warning lamp and switch assembly 61 includes a rectangularsheet metal housing 63 held in position on the under side of arectangular opening 64 in the sheet metal console 62 by means of a bezel65. This bezel 65 has a pair of integrally formed and depending studmembers 66 and 67 that extend through the sheet metal housing 63.Fastening means 68 secure the housing 63 to the bezel 65 and to thesheet metal console 62. One wall 71 of the housing 63, as shown inFIGURES 4 and 7, receives a push-in type electrical socket 72 for thewarning lamp 36. The warning lamp 36 is connected to be energizedthrough the leads 37 and 38 that protrude from the socket 72.

A lens '73 of rectangular form is positioned opposite the warning lamp36 and is in the form of a rectangular box that is open on the side thatfaces the warning lamp 36. The face of the lens 73, as seen in FIGURE 3,has has the words Fasten Seat Belts inscribed thereon so that it remindsthe driver of the vehicle and other occupants to fasten their seat beltswhen the warning lamp 36 is energized. The lens '73 is preferably madeof a plastic material and is colored red. The lens 73 has a pair ofprotruding side flanges 74 and 75 that are positioned between struck-outtabs 76, 77 and 78 and 81 respectively of the sheet metal housing 63.

A leaf spring member 82 has a base portion 83 that surrounds the socket72 secured to the wall 71 of the sheet metal housing 63 by a rivet 84and a terminal 85. An insulator 86 insulates the leaf spring member 82including the base 83 from the wall 71 of the sheet metal hous' ing 63,and this insulator member includes protruding annular flanges 87 and 83that insulate the rivet 34 and the terminal from the wall 71.

The struck-out tabs 77 and 81 of the sheet metal housing 63 carrycontacts 91 and 92 that are adapted to engage contacts 93 and 94,carried by arms 95 and 96 of the leaf spring member 82, as shown inFIGURE 4. The leaf spring member 82, through the arms 95 and 96, urgesor biases the flanges 74- and 75 of the lens 73 into engagement with thestruck-out tabs 76 and 78 of the sheet metal housing 63. In thisposition the contacts 91 and 93, 92 and 94, are not in engagement. Thesecontacts may be brought into engagement by moving the lens 73 toward thewarning lamp 36 and the wall 71 of the sheet metal housing 63 againstthe bias of arms 95 and 96 of the leaf spring member 82. Thus the lens73 and the leaf spring 82, together with contacts 91 through 94, formthe push button switch shown in FIGURE 2. It may be seen the lead 54, asshown in FIGURE 2, is connected to the leaf spring member, includingarms 95 and 96, through the terminal 85. The sheet metal housing 63 andthe console 62 serve as the ground member for the push button switch,with the housing 63 serving as the lead 55, shown schematically inFEGURE 2.

The arms 95 and 96 and the base 83 of the leaf spring 82 serve not onlyas current carrying members for the push button switch arrangement 52,but also serve as reflectors for the light emitted by the warning lamp36. This can most readily be seen by reference to FIGURES 5 and 6 inwhich the leaf spring 82 is shown and it can be seen by reference tothese figures that the base member 82 of the leaf spring 82 as well asthe arms 95 and 96 extend opposite the face of the lens 73 and thusserve to reiiect light emitted from warning lamp 36 through the front ofthe lens. It will be understood that the surface of the leaf springmember 82 that faces the lens 73 should be constructed of, or coated by,a material capable of reflecting light.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it can be appreciated that the combinationnpush button switch and warning lamp assembly 61 is positioned closelyadjacent the vehicle driver. When the vehicle driver turns the ignitionswitch to the on position, the warning lamp 36 will be energized and thelens 73 will be illuminated so that the inscription Fasten Seat Belts onthe face of the lens- 73 will become readily visible to the driver. Thiswill remind the vehicle driver to fasten his seat belt, and when he hasdone so, he may tie-energize the warning lamp 36 by the simple expedientof pushing on or depressing the lens 73 against the bias of the leafspring member 82. The warning lamp 36 will remain de-energized until theignition switch is opened, or turned to the off position, and is againclosed or turned to the on position. It is apparent that other vehicleoccupants, for example, the passenger located in the front seat of thevehicle, may also take advantage of the warning provided by theinvention since this passenger will he in a position to see the warningto actuate the combination push button switch and warning lamp assembly61.

It can be readily appreciated from the foregoing description that thepresent invention is useful in a system that provides a convenient andreliable reminder system for reminding the vehicle occupants to fastentheir seat belts. This system includes a warning lamp that is energizedwhen the ignition switch is turned to the on position with a vehicleoccupant actuated means in the form of the push button switcharrangement described for deenergizing the lamp and keeping the lampde-energized until the ignition switch is opened and again closed.

The invention also provides a unique combination warning lamp and switcharrangement that is capable of use in other reminder or warning systems.

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to theexact construction shown and described but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

it. In an automotive vehicle a warning lamp and push button switchassembly in which said warning lamp is adapted to be extinguished whensaid push button switch is closed comprising, a housing, a warning lampmounted in said housing, a lens positioned in said housing opposite saidwarning lamp, means carried by said housing mounting said lens in saidhousing for limited movement toward and away from said warning lamp, aleaf spring member secured to said housing adjacent said warning lampand including resilient arms extending outwardly from said warning lamp,the ends of said arms engaging said lens for ur ing said lens into aposition remote from said warning lamp, switch contacts carried by saidends of said resilient arms and said housing and being in a normallyopen state, said contacts being closable when said lens is moved towardsaid warning lamp by a vehicle occupant, said leaf spring memberincluding said resilient arms having a light reflective surfacepositioned relative to said warning lamps for reflecting light throughsaid lens.

2. In an automotive vehicle a warning lamp and push button switchassembly in which said warning lamp is .dapted to be extinguished whensaid push button switch 3 closed comprising, a housing, a Warning lampmounted in said housing, a rectangular lens positioned in said housingopposite said warning lamp, said lens having a pair of outwardlyextending flanges, said housing having tabs positioned on either side ofsaid outwardly extending flanges and spaced to provide limited movementof said lens toward and away from said warning lamp, a leaf springmember secured to said housing adjacent said warning lamp and includingrectangular resilient ar-ms extending outwardly from said warning lampand toward said rectangular lens, the ends of said arms engaging saidflanges of said lens for urging said lens into a position remote fromsaid Warning lamp, switch contacts carried by said ends of saidresilient arms and said tabs of said housing and being in a normallyopen state, said contacts being closable when said lens is moved towardsaid Warning lamp by a vehicle occupant, said leaf spring memberincluding said resilient rectangular arms having a light reflectivesurface, said leaf spring member including said rectangular arms beingoriented and positioned to reflect light from said warning lamp throughsaid rectangular lens.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,546,086 3/1951Brockway 200-167 2,769,069 10/ 1956 Christy 200-167 3,007,150 10/1961An'asrnith 340-381 3,099,771 7/1963 Matiyak 340-381 X 3,127,493 3/1964Reed 200-167 3,188,437 6/ 1965 Lauren 200-167 a NEIL C. READ, PrimaryExaminer.

R. M. GOLDMAN, A. H. WARING,

Assistant Examiners.

1. IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE A WARNING LAMP AND PUSH BUTTON SWITCHASSEMBLY IN WHICH SAID WARNING LAMP IS ADAPTED TO BE EXTINGUISHED WHENSAID PUSH BUTTON SWITCH IS CLOSED COMPRISING, A HOUSING, A WARNING LAMPMOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, A LENS POSITIONED IN SAID HOUSING OPPOSITE SAIDWARNING LAMP, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING MOUNTING SAID LENS IN SAIDHOUSING FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID WARNING LAMP, ALEAF SPRING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID WARNING LAMPAND INCLUDING RESILIENT ARMS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID